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Today I’m pondering the importance of just who God included among those who recieved invitations to witness the birth of God on this earth. Joseph the orthodox religious, Mary the pregnant teenager, simple (and many thought simpleton) livestock keepers, geeky and high tech (for their day) and “out there” religiously foreigners (read pagans), syphlitic paranoid Herod, all his court and actually all of Jerusalem (which was full of disparate one in a zillions). And the Lord continues to invite to witness his birth on this earth all who open their ears and hearts and souls to the truth that God got specific in one Jesus of Nazareth; that God came to this earth in flesh and blood to show us how to live and to offer us salvation, which is not the saying of some magic words, but the acceptance of an ongoing relationship of love and trust with Jesus and all those who spend their lives following him. The Lord continues to invite all who will to witness his birth, his life, his death and resurrection, and ongoing presence with, in and through us. It’s just that now it’s not a star that lights the way, that serves as the invitation to the now and forever Christmas. It’s you and me-Jesus follower. It’s you and me-or crucial invitations never make it to the intended dear ones. May each of us now, in the new year, and until we take our last breath on this beautiful blue marble, who treasure our relationship of love and trust with Jesus and his tribe consciously and continually be the invitation of God to a right now and ongoing Christmas for all whose paths we “cross”.

Hey Everybody, Merry Christmas! I’ve been away from this blog for a long time now. It’s not that I’m disinterested; it’s just that I’ve spent the lion’s share of my time these many weeks responding and living into the leading of Jesus in my life regarding so many things he is asking of me. What an honor to be asked! What a joy to be able to serve Him! Just this morning I heard from a dear Sister whom I have never met telling me that at her work place she was scolded about calling something a Christmas ornament. Come on, folks! Tolerance is something that has to go in all directions. That includes accepting Jesus followers openly expressing their faith too. I am not and will never be a generic “Happy Holidays” kind of guy. If you think that about me; you don’t know me. I am a Jesus follower to the core of my being. It’s all Jesus, all the time for me. At the same time, because I follow him I am respectful of all people and how they are choosing to spend their lives. There is no litmus test regarding whom I am supposed to love for Christ’s sake. He loves everyone, and he calls me to do the same. If by loving them I earn the right to share my faith in Jesus with them, I am elated. But I will not force my faith on anyone, taking the lead of my Lord who does not. He said he stands at the door and knocks, and if someone will open to him he will enter (their heart and mind and soul) and fellowship with them. I knock on human hearts and minds and souls as well (for his sake and for theirs). My knocking sounds just like respect and tolerance and acceptance and-well, love.